MLB Capsules

Normally, capsules won't appear on this blog. However, when several teams face must-wins and do just that, the games become talking points. Let's take a look:

Mets 6, Cubs 2
In jeopardy of another late-season collapse and early off-season, the Mets got a big hand from ace Johan Santana. The left-hander limited Chicago to two runs over 8 innings while striking out 10. David Wright hit a two-run single in the fifth and Jose Reyes cleared the bases in the sixth with a triple to provide the offense in a 6-2 win.
Unwilling to rely on his hapless bullpen, manager Charlie Manuel chose to send Santana out for the eighth despite having already thrown 101 pitches. It worked.
New York moves within 1 1/2 games of Philadelphia and remains a game ahead of Milwaukee, a 7-5 winner over Pittsburgh, in the Wild Card race.

Twins 9, White Sox 3
The long ball proved to be the difference in this one. Only the White Sox weren't the ones hitting them. Jason Kubel smashed two and Delmon Young added another as the Twins routed Chicago 9-3 to move within 1 1/2 games of first place. Scott Baker rebounded from a rough outing, scattering five hits and allowing just a run-scoring double play over seven innings.

Brewers 7, Pirates 5
The Fielder will be heralded for his bat tonight. Prince Fielder hit a walk-off two-run homer with two outs to keep the Brewers in the Wild Card hunt. Milwaukee overcame two deficits to win consecutively for the first time in 17 days.

Yankees 3, Blue Jays 1
Behind the arm of veteran Mike Mussina and bat of Jason Giambi the Bronx Bombers won for the sixth consecutive time.
It's too little too late because:

Red Sox 5, Indians 4
Boston smelled the postseason. Nothing could stand in its way, not even Cliff Lee, AL CY Young favorite and loser of just two games this season.
Kevin Youkilis homered with a man on in the fourth and Dustin Pedroia doubled in two more during a three-run fifth to overcome the Indians' four spot in the top-half and earn a trip to the playoffs for the fifth time in six years.

Dodgers 10, Padres 1
With Arizona in the rear-view mirror, Los Angeles pounced on a chance to move closer to a division title. After one, the Dodgers held a 6-0 advantage. They added four more for good measure the rest of the way in a 10-1 drubbing of San Diego.

And now ... the losers

Cardinals 7, D'Backs 4
The fast start again proved fatal to the visitors. Ryan Ludwick blasted his 35th of the season in part of a four run first to send Arizona one step closer to elimination.

Braves 3, Phillies 2
Mike Hampton pitched 6 effective innings and Casey Kotchman hit the eventual game-winning home run to tighten the NL East race.